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No-nonsense Newcastle leave Blades in bother
SHEFFIELD, England (AFP) - Sheffield United's relegation worries deepened following a 2-1 Premiership defeat to visitors Newcastle United here at Bramall Lane on Saturday.
Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins put the Magpies ahead in the 17th minute and Christian Nade thought he had salvaged a precious point for the hosts with a 74th-minute equaliser.
But centre-half Steven Taylor won the match six minutes later to move Newcastle into 10th in the table and virtually secure their top-flight survival.
The Blades remain in the relegation zone on goal difference and are only two points ahead of West Ham United following their shock 1-0 win at Arsenal.
Both teams contributed to a bright start with Newcastle's French midfielder Antoine Sibierski scuffing wide from Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff's fifth-minute corner.
The hosts soon responded with an effort of their own as Mikele Leigertwood salvaged a loose ball from a throw-in and volleyed narrowly over the crossbar from 20 yards out.
Newcastle broke the deadlock when Martins drilled a 20-yard shot past goalkeeper Paddy Kenny's left hand following a flowing move involving Duff and James Milner.
A vociferous home crowd urged the Blades towards an equaliser but another long-range effort from Leigertwood was their only reward.
Newcastle continued to look dangerous on the break and almost doubled their lead when Kenny saved Sibierski's shot, the result of good work on the right wing by Milner.
Duff then played a one-two with Sibierski before striking a right-footed effort a foot wide.
The home team spurned a chance to equalise shortly before half-time when centre-back Chris Lucketti saw his weak header saved by Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given.
Duff should have done better after finding space in a good position early in the second-half but snatched at the chance and sliced the ball wide.
The visitors suffered a blow on 56 minutes when manager Glenn Roeder was forced to remove captain Scott Parker through injury.
Lucketti had another chance on the hour but Given comfortably caught his header.
Martins almost scored three minutes later when he curled a shot from a tight angle against the post. Sibierski followed up but ballooned the rebound over the bar when in a great scoring position.
The Blades immediately charged upfield and Given had to be at his best to deny substitute Nade from six yards out, with Michael Tonge curling the loose ball over the top.
The home team continued to pile on the pressure as Nade headed narrowly wide with Given well beaten.
It was third time lucky for the Frenchman however when he latched onto a Nick Montgomery pass before firing the ball into the roof of the net.
Sheffield United enjoyed only six minutes of being on level terms before Taylor powered in a header from a Milner corner to claim his second Premiership goal of the season.
Desperation kicked in for the home team as Lucketti missed another close-range header and Given pulled off a fantastic save from Danny Webber to condemn the Blades to a costly defeat.
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